Barbate
36.192°, -5.922° · 18 m a.s.l.
Visible
Partial eclipse · 93% obscuration
The Sun clears local terrain by 4.30° at peak.
60/100Good
93%
Partial eclipse · 93% obscuration
See the eclipse from Barbate minute by minute
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Photo: Technische Fred at nl.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
About Barbate
Barbate is a coastal municipality in the province of Cádiz, in the far southwestern corner of Andalusia, with some 22,500 inhabitants and barely 18 meters above sea level. The locality occupies the Atlantic coast of the Cádiz shoreline, between the La Breña y Marismas nature reserve and Cape Trafalgar, the historic promontory that lent its name to the 1805 naval battle. Its position facing the Strait of Gibraltar, from which Africa becomes visible on the clearest days, gives the municipality a distinctly Atlantic geographic character.
For this eclipse
On August 12, 2026, Barbate will witness a partial solar eclipse that reaches its maximum at 20:39, local time. The Sun will already be very low on the horizon—just 6.7 degrees in altitude—when the moment of greatest obscuration occurs. The margin above the horizon is around 4 degrees, so observation is possible, but it is advisable to position yourself at a viewpoint without obstacles to the west so as not to miss the phenomenon in the final minutes of daylight.
The weather in August
August in Barbate is one of the most meteorologically stable months of the year. The Atlantic coast of Cádiz benefits in midsummer from a maritime influence that tempers temperatures and moderates the extreme radiation of interior Andalusia. AEMET historical records for the period 1991–2020 indicate a low risk of storms during this month, which favors relatively clear skies on the afternoon of the eclipse. The levante wind, when it blows, can bring occasional cloudiness, though afternoons tend to be sunnier than mornings.
Past eclipses
The last total solar eclipse visible from Barbate took place on December 22, 1870, more than 155 years ago: totality lasted around one minute and forty-six seconds over these Cádiz coasts. After the partial eclipses of 2026 and 2028, it will be necessary to wait until September 12, 2053 for the umbral cone to cross the locality again and for totality to be witnessed once more from here.
Direction and altitude of the Sun
At the moment of maximum eclipse, at 20:39, the Sun will be at 6.7 degrees above the horizon with an azimuth of 284 degrees, almost exactly west-northwest. Observers should orient themselves looking toward the Atlantic and slightly north of due west to frame the celestial body. At that hour the Sun will be in rapid descent toward sunset, so choosing an elevated point or one with a clear sea horizon will be decisive in not missing the final moments of the phenomenon.
Editorial text by eclipses.app · Data: Wikidata, AEMET, NASA and astronomy-engine.
Eclipse schedule in Barbate
| Phase | UTC | Local time | Sun alt. | Sun az. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 — Partial begins | 17:43 UTC | 19:43 | +17.6° | 275.7° |
| Maximum | 18:39 UTC | 20:39 | +6.7° | 283.5° |
| C4 — Partial ends | 19:31 UTC | 21:31 | -2.8° | 291.1° |
Sun direction and altitude at C4
Look toward WNW (291.1°)
Azimuth at C4
291.1° WNW
Sun altitude at C4
-2.78°
Terrain horizon
2.40°
Sun−terrain margin
+4.30°
What the contact points (C1-C4) mean
A solar eclipse is described by four key moments, the contact points between the discs of the Sun and the Moon:
- C1First contact: the Moon touches the edge of the Sun and the partial eclipse begins.
- C2Second contact: the Moon fully covers the Sun and totality begins.
- C3Third contact: the Sun reappears and totality ends.
- C4Fourth contact: the Moon leaves the Sun's disc and the eclipse ends.
Where the eclipse is only partial, the Moon never fully covers the Sun: only C1 and C4 occur, with no totality in between.
Peaks near Barbate
| Peak | Elevation | Distance | Azimuth |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Bartolomé | 442 m | 21.0 km | 124° SE |
| Torre de Viglilancia forestal | — | 24.0 km | 110° ESE |
Weather in Barbate in August
Historical cloud cover
P25 — clearer days
0%
Median cloud cover
0%
P75 — cloudier days
1%
Source: ERA5 (ECMWF), 10-year average at the eclipse hour.
Other eclipses seen from Barbate
- Last total eclipseDecember 22, 1870156 years ago
- Next total eclipseSeptember 12, 2053
- Next annular eclipseJuly 13, 2075
Solar eclipses computed from astronomical ephemerides for the city's coordinates.
Frequently asked questions about the eclipse in Barbate
Will the eclipse of August 12, 2026 be visible from Barbate?
Yes, partial eclipse: the Sun will be 93% covered at maximum from Barbate.
What time is the eclipse maximum in Barbate?
Maximum occurs at 20:39 local time (18:39 UTC) in Barbate.
Which direction to look to watch the eclipse from Barbate?
Look WNW (azimuth 284°); the Sun will be 7° above the horizon at maximum from Barbate.
Is Barbate a good place to watch the eclipse?
Barbate is a good option (score 60/100): all eclipse phases are visible, though not the regional optimum.
Do I need special glasses to watch the eclipse?
Yes, you need ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses during every partial phase. Regular sunglasses do NOT protect. Glasses can only be removed during the totality phase (when the Sun is fully covered); never during annular or partial eclipses. Pages flagged "visible" assume a clear horizon, not a viewing recommendation.
Nearby cities
All cities in Andalusia →Where to stay in Barbate
For the August 12 eclipse. Recommended stay: Aug 10–14, 2026.
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